LU101327B1

LU101327B1 - Floor-wall junction device

Info

Publication number: LU101327B1
Application number: LU101327A
Authority: LU
Inventors: Benjamin Cornez
Original assignee: Tarkett Gdl Sa
Priority date: 2019-07-25
Filing date: 2019-07-25
Publication date: 2021-01-25

Abstract

A first aspect of the invention pertains to a floor-wall junction device for covering a joint between a wall and a floor and for allowing a floor covering to be laid to form a skirting board on the wall. The floor-wall junction device comprises a cove former having a back side and a front side. The back side is adapted to contact the floor and the wall. The front side, located opposite to the back side, is adapted to provide support to the floor covering. In addition, the floor-wall junction device comprises a skirting base having a back side and a front side. The back side is adapted to contact the wall. The front side, located opposite to the back side, is adapted to contact the floor covering. The front side is further adapted to secure an edge of the floor covering for forming the skirting board. The skirting base has an upper edge. The skirting base comprises an upper vent channel having an upper vent opening located at the upper edge, so as to allow venting moisture from the floor through the upper vent channel and the upper vent opening when the floor covering is secured to the skirting base and forms with it the skirting board. A second aspect of the invention pertains to a flooring assembly comprising a floor-wall junction device according to the first aspect of the invention and a floor covering.

Description

! LU101327

DESCRIPTION FLOOR-WALL JUNCTION DEVICE Field of the Invention

[0001] The invention generally relates to floor-wall junction devices and flooring assemblies comprising the floor-wall junction device and a floor covering. Background of the Invention

[0002] Buildings are generally constructed to avoid the likelihood of fungal growth or the accumulation of contaminants on linings and other building elements. Fungal growth may be mitigated by minimizing internal condensation in buildings. Avoiding the likelihood of fungal growth or the accumulation of contaminants is particularly important for hospitals or other medical facilities.

[0003] While cleaning rooms in hospitals, free water overflow may penetrate behind non-watertight linings, thereby greatly increasing the risk of fungal growth or contamination. Therefore, surfaces of building elements likely to be splashed must be constructed in a way that prevents water splash from penetrating behind linings. These surfaces should also be capable of easy cleaning.

[0004] Furthermore, it should be added that the presence of moisture may cause damage to building elements.

[0005] Solutions for mitigating the risks of internal moisture are provided e.g. in “Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods For New Zealand Building Code ClauseE3 Internal Moisture”. In particular, floor coverings which are impervious should be used. Moreover the floor covering must be continuous and coved or joints sealed where they meet the wall. Technical Problem

[0006] It is an object of an aspect of the present invention to improve the current solutions for mitigating the risks of internal moisture in buildings, in particular to further mitigate the risk of fungal growth or the accumulation of contaminants in buildings.

General Description

[0007] À first aspect of the invention pertains to a floor-wall junction device for covering a joint between a wall and a floor and for allowing a floor covering to be laid to form a skirting board on the wall. The floor-wall junction device comprises a cove former having a back side and a front side. The back side is adapted to contact the floor and the wall. The front side, located opposite to the back side, is adapted to provide support to the floor covering. In addition, the floor-wall junction device comprises a skirting base having a back side and a front side. The back side is adapted to contact the wall. The front side, located opposite to the back side, is adapted to contact the floor covering. The front side is further adapted to secure an edge of the floor covering for forming the skirting board. The skirting base has an upper edge. The skirting base comprises an upper vent channel having an upper vent opening located at the upper edge, so as to allow venting moisture from the floor through the upper vent channel and the upper vent opening when the floor covering is secured to the skirting base and forms with it the skirting board.

[0008] It will be appreciated that the cove former allows for arranging the floor covering over the floor-wall junction and up the wall. The cove former mitigates the risk of piercing the floor covering.

[0009] As used herein, the term “front side” refers to the side which can be seen by a person during installation of the floor-wall junction device. In particular, it is the side that can be seen when the floor-wall junction device is in contact with the floor but before the floor covering is laid. The “back side” refers to the side which is concealed and cannot be seen by a person when the floor-wall junction device is in contact with the floor and the wall. The back side that is opposite to the front side.

[0010] As used herein, the term “vent channel” refers to a channel permitting the escape of gas, in particular air. The vent channel of the skirting base thus allow venting moisture from the floor to the environment when the floor covering is secured to the skirting base. In other word, the vent channel allows for venting the moisture from the floor.

[0011] Therefore, it will be appreciated that the floor-wall junction device allows for mitigating the risks of internal moisture in buildings, in particular when the floor is provided e.g. by a concrete or fibro-cement slab, which dry very slowly

(for a 6 cm thick slab, the drying time may be as long as 8 weeks). Construction budget is thereby increased because the floor covering usually cannot be arranged on incompletely dried slabs. Nevertheless, floor coverings are usually arranged on a cured but only partially dried slab, so that the slab still exude moisture. Moisture will consequently be trapped between the floor and the floor covering. It will therefore be appreciated that first aspect of the invention allows for mitigating the risk of fungal growth or the accumulation of contaminants in buildings by venting moisture from the floor through the vent channel.

[0012] The cove former may comprise a lower edge. The cove former may comprise a lower vent channel having a lower vent opening located at the lower edge. The lower vent channel is in fluid communication with the upper vent channel so as to allow venting moisture from the floor through the lower and upper vent channels when the floor covering is in contact with the cove former.

[0013] Preferably, the skirting base further comprises a second upper vent channel having a second upper vent opening located at the upper edge.

[0014] According to an embodiment, the floor-wall junction device comprises an upper vent manifold in fluid communication with the upper vent channel and the second upper vent channel. In this way, moisture from the floor located near the upper vent channel may still be vented by the second upper vent channel in case, e.g., the upper vent opening of the upper vent channel is obstructed, or vice-versa.

[0015] The cove former further may comprise a second lower vent channel having a second lower vent opening located at the lower edge.

[0016] The floor-wall junction device may comprise a lower vent manifold in fluid communication with the lower vent channel and the second lower vent channel.

[0017] Preferably, the lower vent channel and the upper vent channel are in fluid communication through a vent manifold. Even more preferably, the cove former comprises the vent manifold.

[0018] According to an embodiment, the skirting base may comprise a capping element for securing, preferably snugly securing, the edge of the floor covering.

[0019] Preferably, the front side of the cove former forms a curved surface for supporting the floor covering. It will be appreciated that the curved surface prevents accumulation of dirt or bacteria and facilitates cleaning.

[0020] According to an embodiment, the floor-wall junction device has a height comprised in the interval from 5 to 20 cm, preferably from 7 to 15 cm, more preferably from 10 to 14 cm.

[0021] According to an embodiment, the back side of the skirting base and/or the back side of the cove former comprises a double sided tape. Preferably, a protective liner is arranged on the double sided tape. It will be appreciated that the use of double sided tape allows for easily affixing the floor-wall junction device to the wall and/or the floor. Alternatively or additionally, other affixing means may be used, such as screws, nails and/or glue.

[0022] The floor-wall junction device may be made of a plastic material, preferably of a thermoplastic material, even more preferably of polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The cove former and the skirting base may be integrally formed, e.g. by moulding. The floor-wall junction device may be moulded.

[0023] According to an embodiment, the upper and/or lower vent channels are recesses on the back side of the skirting base and the cove former, respectively. Alternatively, they may be conduits integrally formed in skirting base and the cove former, respectively.

[0024] According to an embodiment, the recesses are circular cylindrical recesses, oval cylindrical recesses or parallelepiped recesses, or a combination thereof.

[0025] According to an embodiment, the conduits are circular cylindrical conduits, oval cylindrical conduits or parallelepiped conduits, or a combination thereof.

[0026] According to an embodiment, the depth of the recesses or conduits is comprised in the interval from 0.2 to 5 mm, preferably from 0.5 to 4 mm, more preferably from 1 to 3 mm, even more preferably from 1.5 to 2 mm.

[0027] The width of the recesses or conduits may be comprised in the interval from 0.5 to 10 mm, preferably from 1 to 7 mm, more preferably from 1.5 to 5 mm,

> LU101327 the width being the measured in the plane parallel to the wall surface for upper vent channels or the floor surface for lower vent channels.

[0028] The minimal distance between each pair of recesses or conduits may be comprised in the interval from 1 to 15 cm, preferably from 2 to 12 cm, more preferably from 3 to 10 cm, even more preferably from 4 to 7 cm.

[0029] The floor-wall junction device may comprise two or more (upper) ribs protruding from the back side of the skirting base. The one or more upper vent channels are formed between the two or more ribs. Similarly, according to an embodiment, floor-wall junction device may comprise two or more lower ribs protruding from the back side of the cove former. The one or more lower vent channels are formed between the two or more lower ribs.

[0030] According to an embodiment, the depth of the protruding ribs is comprised in the interval from interval from 0.1 to 2 mm, preferably from 0.25 to

1.5 mm, more preferably from 0.5 to 1 mm.

[0031] According to an embodiment, the width of the ribs is comprised in the interval from 0.5 to 10 mm, preferably from 1 to 7 mm, more preferably from 1.5 to 5 mm, the width being the measured in the plane parallel to the wall surface for upper vent channels or the floor surface for lower vent channels.

[0032] According to an embodiment, the length of the vent channel is comprised in the interval from 5 to 20 cm, preferably from 7 to 15cm, more preferably from 10 to 14 cm, the length being the measured in the plane parallel to the wall surface for upper vent channels or the floor surface for lower vent channels.

[0033] It should be noted that the cove former may comprise a plurality of lower vent channels (i.e. two or more) and that the skirting base may comprise a plurality (i.e. two or more) of upper vent channels. In the same way, the cove former may comprise a plurality of lower vent manifolds (i.e. two or more) and that the skirting base may comprise a plurality (i.e. two or more) of upper vent manifolds.

[0034] A second aspect of the invention pertains to a flooring assembly comprising a floor-wall junction device as described hereinabove and a floor covering. The floor covering is supported by the front side of the cove former. An edge of the floor covering is secured to the skirting base to form a skirting board. The skirting base has an upper edge. The flooring assembly allows for venting moisture from the floor on which the floor covering is laid through the upper vent channel and the upper vent opening.

[0035] The floor covering may be a loose-laid floor covering or a glued (or otherwise fixed) floor covering.

[0036] Preferably, the floor covering is a decorative floor covering. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0037] By way of example, preferred, non-limiting embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1: shows a floor-wall junction device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2: shows a floor-wall junction device according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3: shows a floor-wall junction device according to a third embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4: shows a floor-wall junction device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 5: shows a floor-wall junction device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] The reader’s attention is drawn to the fact that the drawings are not to scale. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, proportions between height, length and/or width may not have been represented correctly.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

[0039] Fig. 1 depicts a floor-wall junction device 2 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The floor-wall junction device 2 is made of PVC. The floor-wall junction device 2 is arranged to cover a joint between a wall 4 and a floor 6 formed by a concrete slab. The floor-wall junction device 2 is affixed to the wall 4 and the floor 6 with double sided tape 8 arranged on the back side of the floor-wall junction device 2. A loose-laid decorative floor covering 10 is secured to the floor-wall junction device 2 to form a skirting board, as depicted in Fig. 1.

[0040] In more details, the floor-wall junction device 2 comprises a cove former 12 having a back side 14 and a front side 16. The back side 14 is contacting the floor 6 and the wall 4. The double sided tape 8 arranged on the back side 14 allows for affixing the back side 14 on the floor 6. The front side 16, located opposite tothe back side 14, forms a curved surface to provide support to the floor covering 10 forming a skirting board.

[0041] The floor-wall junction device 2 also comprises a skirting base 18 having a back side 20 and a front side 22. The back side 20 contacts the wall. The double sided tape 8 arranged on the back side 20 allows for affixing the back side 20 on the wall 4. The front side 22, located opposite to the back side 20, contacts the floor covering 10. The front side 20 secures an edge of the floor covering 10 for forming the skirting board. The securement of the edge of the floor covering 10 is operated by a capping element 24 of the skirting base 18. The geometry of the capping element 24 allows for snugly securing the edge of the floor covering 10.

Indeed, the capping element 24 comprises a recess in the form of an undercut 26 in which the edge of the floor covering 10 is inserted. The undercut 26 is formed in such a way that its thickness is slightly lower than the thickness of the floor covering 10 so that the edge of the floor covering is snugly secured to the capping element 24.

[0042] The floor-wall junction device 2 has a height comprised in the interval from 5 to 20 cm, preferably from 7 to 15 cm, more preferably from 10 to 14 cm.

[0043] Vent channels 28 are arranged on the back side 20 of the skirting base 18 and on the back side 14 of the cove former 12. The vent channels 28 allow for venting moisture from the floor 6, even when the floor covering 10 is laid on the floor. For example, moisture accumulated between the loose-laid floor covering 10 and the floor 6 can be vented by the vent channels 28.

[0044] It should be noted that the floor-wall junction device 2, including the vent channels 28, is preferably moulded. However, in other embodiments, the floor- wall junction device 2, including the vent channels 28, may be moulded and the vent channels 28 may then be machined, e.g. drilled.

[0045] In the first embodiment, the vent channels 28 are arranged along the entire height of the floor-wall junction device 2. In particular, the vent channels 28 comprise upper vent openings 30 located at an upper edge 32 of the floor-wall junction device 2 and lower vent openings 34 located at a lower edge 36 of the floor- wall junction device 2. Therefore, moisture e.g. trapped between the floor 6 and the floor covering 10 may enter the vent channel 28 through the lower vent openings 34 and be released to the environment through the upper vent openings 30.

[0046] The vent channels 28 are circular cylindrical recesses arranged on the back side 20 of the skirting base 18 and on the back side 14 of the cove former 12. According other embodiments, the recesses may be oval cylindrical recesses or parallelepiped recesses. According an embodiment, the recesses may be a combination of circular cylindrical recesses, oval cylindrical recesses or parallelepiped recesses.

[0047] The depth of the recesses is comprised in the interval from 0.2 to 5 mm, preferably from 0.5 to 4 mm, more preferably from 1 to 3 mm, even more preferably from 1.5 to 2 mm. The width of the recesses is comprised in the interval from 0.5 to 10 mm, preferably from 1 to 7 mm, more preferably from 1.5 to 5 mm.

[0048] The double sided tape 8 is arranged so that it does not overlap the vent channels 28.

[0049] It will be appreciated that the double sided tape 8 may be replaced or complemented by glue, also not overlapping the vent channels 28. Alternatively or additionally, screws and/or nails may be used for affixing the floor-wall junction device 2. In particular, the screws and/or nails may be arranged so that they pass through the skirting base 18 and fitted into the wall 4.

[0050] In the first embodiment, the vent channels 28 are arranged parallel to each other and form right-angled corners with respect to the edges 32, 36. However, any other configuration is suitable. For example, the vent channels 28 may be arranged diagonally on the back sides 14, 20, i.e. with non-right-angled corners with respect to the edges 32, 36. The vent channels 28 may even curvilinear.

[0051] The minimal distance between each pair of recesses is comprised in the interval from 1 to 15 cm, preferably from 2 to 12 cm, more preferably from 3 to 10 cm, even more preferably from 4 to 7 cm.

[0052] A protective liner (not represented) may be arranged on the double sided tape for protecting the double sided tape during transport and/or storage of

? LU101327 the floor-wall junction device 2. The protective liner may be removed before affixing the wall junction device 2 on the floor 6 and the wall 4.

[0053] The floor-wall junction device 2 comprises a vent manifold 38. More particularly, the cove former comprise a recess that forms the vent manifold 38 so that the joint joint between the wall 4 and a floor 6 is not in contact with the floor- wall junction device 2. The vent manifold 38 allows for the vent channels 38 to be in fluid communication with each other. It further allows to distribute the moisture from the floor 6 across the vent channels 28 so that moisture is vented more efficiently.

[0054] Fig. 2 depicts a floor-wall junction device 2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is identical to the first embodiment except in that the vent channels are not arranged along the entire height of the floor-wall junction device 2. In this embodiment, an upper vent channel 28a is arranged on the back side 20 of the skirting base 18 and a lower vent channel 28b is arranged on the back side 14 of the cove former 12. The vent channels 28a, 28b are in fluid communication through the vent manifold 38. In other words, in this embodiment, the vent channels does not extend over the vent manifold 38. It will be appreciated this embodiment allows for decreasing the production costs of the floor-wall junction device while still providing similar venting capabilities, when compared to the first embodiment.

[0055] Fig. 3 depicts a floor-wall junction device 2 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment is identical to the second embodiment except in that the back side 20 of the skirting base 18 also comprises an upper vent manifold 40 in fluid communication with the upper vent channels 28a. Of course, the back side 20 of the cove former 12 may also comprise a plurality of lower vent manifolds. The vent manifolds may be recesses on the on the back side 20 of the skirting base 18 and on the back side 14 of the cove former 12.

[0056] In the same way as in the first embodiment, the upper and lower vent channels 28a, 28b may form a unique vent channel 28 arranged along the entire height of the floor-wall junction device 2.

[0057] Fig. 4 depicts a floor-wall junction device 2 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The fourth embodiment is identical to the third embodiment, except in the vent channels 28a, 28b are conduits 42a, 42b integrally formed in skirting base 18 and the cove former 12 instead of recesses on the back side of the skirting base 18 and the cove former 12. It will be appreciated that the double sided tape may be more easily arranged in the back sides 14. Indeed, a particular care is required when affixing the double sided tape since the double sided tape may be affixed over the entire back sides which will be in contact with the floor and the wall without obstructing the vent channels.

[0058] The conduits 42a, 42b may be circular cylindrical conduits, oval cylindrical conduits or parallelepiped conduits, or a combination thereof.

[0059] Upper and lower vent manifolds may also be arranged as described in the third embodiment. The upper and lower vent manifolds may also be conduits 42a, 42b integrally formed in skirting base 18 and the cove former 12.

[0060] The depth of the conduits is comprised in the interval from 0.2 to 5 mm, preferably from 0.5 to 4 mm, more preferably from 1 to 3 mm, even more preferably from 1.5 to 2 mm. The width of the recesses is comprised in the interval from 0.5 to 10 mm, preferably from 1 to 7 mm, more preferably from 1.5 to 5 mm.

[0061] The minimal distance between each pair of conduits is comprised in the interval from 1 to 15 cm, preferably from 2 to 12 cm, more preferably from 3 to 10 cm, even more preferably from 4 to 7 em.

[0062] Fig. 5 depicts a floor-wall junction device 2 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The floor-wall junction device 2 comprises a plurality of ribs 44a, 44b protruding from the back side 20 of the skirting base 18 and from the back side 14 of the cove former 12. In another embodiment, floor-wall junction device 2 may comprise protruding ribs 44a, 44b only on the back side 20 of the skirting base 18. The depth of the protruding ribs 44a, 44b is comprised in the interval from interval from 0.1 to 2 mm, preferably from 0.25 to 1.5 mm, more preferably from 0.5 to 1 mm. The width of the ribs 44a, 44b is comprised in the interval from 0.5 to 10 mm, preferably from 1 to 7 mm, more preferably from 1.5 to 5 mm, the width being the measured in the plane parallel to the wall surface and the floor surface, respectively. The ribs 44a, 44b may comprise double sided tape for affixing the floor-wall junction device 2 to the wall 4 and the floor 6.

[0063] In this embodiment, the protruding ribs 44 are in contact with the wall 4 or the floor 6, thereby leaving a free space between the ribs 44 when the ribs 44 are in contact with floor 6 and the wall 4. The free space between each pair of ribs 44 forms a vent channel 46. In particular, the free space between each pair of ribs 44 of the cove former 12 forms a lower vent channel 44a and the free space between each pair of ribs 44 of the skirting base 18 forms a lower vent channel 44a.

[0064] It will be appreciated that the loose-laid floor covering 10 described hereinabove may be replaced by a floor covering that is fixed to the floor 6 by glue, screws and/or nails.

[0065] While specific embodiments have been described herein in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention, which is to be given the full breadth of the appended claims and any and all equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. Afloor-wall junction device for covering a joint between a wall and a floor and for allowing a floor covering to be laid to form a skirting board on the wall, the floor-wall junction device comprising: a cove former having a back side adapted to contact the floor and the wall and a front side opposite to the back side, the front side being adapted to provide support to the floor covering; a skirting base having a back side, adapted to contact the wall, and a front side, opposite to the back side, adapted to contact the floor covering and adapted to secure an edge of the floor covering for forming the skirting board, the skirting base having an upper edge; wherein the skirting base comprises an upper vent channel having an upper vent opening located at the upper edge, so as to allow venting moisture from the floor through the upper vent channel and the upper vent opening when the floor covering is secured to the skirting base and forms with it the skirting board.

2. The floor-wall junction device as claimed in claim 1, the cove former comprising a lower edge, wherein the cove former comprises a lower vent channel having a lower vent opening located at the lower edge, the lower vent channel being in fluid communication with the upper vent channel so as to allow venting moisture from the floor through the lower and upper vent channels when the floor covering is in contact with the cove former.

3. The floor-wall junction device according to any one of claims 1 to 2, the skirting base further comprising a second upper vent channel having a second upper vent opening located at the upper edge.

4. The floor-wall junction device as claimed in claim 3, the floor-wall junction device comprising an upper vent manifold in fluid communication with the upper vent channel and the second upper vent channel.

5. The floor-wall junction device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the cove former further comprising a second lower vent channel having a second lower vent opening located at the lower edge.

6. The floor-wall junction device as claimed in claim 5, the floor-wall junction device comprising a lower vent manifold in fluid communication with the lower vent channel and the second lower vent channel.

7. The floor-wall junction device according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the lower vent channel and the upper vent channel are in fluid communication through a vent manifold.

8. The floor-wall junction device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cove former comprises the vent manifold.

9. The floor-wall junction device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the skirting base comprises a capping element for securing, preferably snugly securing, the edge of the floor covering.

10. The floor-wall junction device to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the front side of the cove former forms a curved surface for supporting the floor covering.

11. The floor-wall junction device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the floor-wall junction device is made of a plastic material, preferably of a thermoplastic material, even more preferably of polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

12. The floor-wall junction device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the upper and/or lower vent channels are recesses on the back side of the skirting base and the cove former, respectively, or are conduits integrally formed in skirting base and the cove former, respectively.

13. The floor-wall junction device according to claim 15, wherein the recesses are circular cylindrical recesses, oval cylindrical recesses or parallelepiped recesses, or a combination thereof.

14. The floor-wall junction device according to claim 15, wherein the conduits are circular cylindrical conduits, oval cylindrical conduits or parallelepiped conduits, or a combination thereof.